Pollution from truck emissions doubles at Christmas

toxic air pollution
caused by trucks Christmas gift shopping will more than double in the month of December. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy duty vehicles transporting gifts across Europe will rise 133% this month compared to a normal month, according to a new analysis from Transport & Environment (T&E). NOx is the pollutant at the center of the Dieselgate scandal and
is responsible for 49,000 deaths annual prematurity in Europe.

The carbon emissions from these trucks will increase at the same rate in December: 133% or the equivalent of 9,500 round trips between Paris and New York.

After analysis
extra emissions of CO2 and NOx from trucks carrying consumer goods -excluding food- in the month of December, from T&E, as a solution to the problem, zero-emission trucks are already on the market. A solution in which the legislators of the European Union force truck manufacturers to start mass production of electric models.

According to
Carlos Bravo Villa, head of freight transport for T&E in Spain «The transport of goods by road is today a highly polluting activity, reaching exorbitant levels at Christmas. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Zero-emission trucks are already available and could become the cheapest option if the European Union requires manufacturers to start mass-producing them. Moreover, the result would be doubly positive, both for air quality and for the climate.

According to the report, trucks are responsible for more than half of the total CO2 emissions from transportation on some of the busiest routes.
for Christmas gifts, despite covering less than 10% of the journey. Three-fifths (60%) of the CO2 from transporting a gift from China to Madrid comes from a truck, while half of the pollution (51%) from transporting a gift from China to Warsaw is emitted by a truck.

This is evident from the report
emission-free trucks would make it possible to significantly reduce the climate cost of road freight transport. Adopting a target requiring truck manufacturers to sell only zero-emission vehicles from 2035 would reduce total CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles: already by 11% in 2030 and by almost half (48%) by 2035 (compared to values of 2022).

Earlier this month, a coalition of companies that are part of it
Siemens, Unilever, Maersk and PepsiCo he informed the EU that a 2035 zero-emission target for sales of new trucks would provide the investment security that would encourage manufacturers to increase their offerings of green hydrogen and electric vehicles.

In the words of Carlos Bravo, “make
a gift for Christmas it should be a happy gesture that doesn’t endanger the planet. Combustion engine trucks contribute excessively to the pollution problem, which is exacerbated as road traffic multiplies. Opting for zero-emission trucks would ease consumers’ consciences knowing that their gifts are being transported in green vehicles.

T&E demands that it be enacted
the obligation for European manufacturers to sell only zero-emission vehicles from 2035 as a way to accelerate the deployment of electric and hydrogen trucks. The European Commission is expected to present proposals for CO2 targets for truck manufacturers in January.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.